Electric lamp socket for double filament lamps



Sept. 6, 1938. B. c. WEBSTER 2,129,597

ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET FOR DOUBLE FILAMEN T LAMPS Filed April 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BENJAMIN c. WEBSTER BY HIS ATTORNEYS MMM Sept. 6, 1938. B. c. WEBSTER ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET FOR DOUBLE FILAMENT LAMPS Filed April 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R n R T E SN mBR N W E W T W.A l C 5 N H, Y AB J N E B Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES ELECTRIC LAlVIP SOCKET FOR DOUBLE FILAMENT LAMPS Benjamin C. Webster, Southport, Conn., assignor.

to The Bryant Electric Company, Bridgeport Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application April 2, 1935, Serial No. 14,306

11 Claims.

This invention relates to electric lamp sockets. More particularly it relates to electric lamp sockets for electric lamps which have double filaments,

each filament of which may be lighted. separately, or both of them may be lighted at one time. I

It is an object of this invention to provide a device having an electric lamp socket for double filament lamps in one portion of the device, and

in another portion a switch mechanism for conii trolling the flow of the current through the filamcnts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the above type in which the socket portion may be separated from the switch porm tion in order that each of these portions may be used separately if desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electric lamp socket of the above type in which the socket portion and the switch portion are secured together by means of screws which in addition to their function of holding the parts together also perform as current carrying parts to carry the electric current from the switchto the socket.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as it is described in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a longitudinal midsection view of an electric lamp socket and switch device constructed according to the principles of my in' vention.

Figure 2 is an end view of the device shown in Figure 1 looking into the socket end.

Figure 3 is aplan View looking into the interior of the switch base of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view looking at the bottom or exterior of the cover of the switch portion of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the exterior of the end face of the socket portion of the device shown in Figure 1. s

Figure 6 is a midsection view of the socket portion of the device shown in Figure 1, the section 5 being taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a view of the current carrying parts of the invention disclosed in Figure 1 with these parts in perspective and connected diagrammatically to show the circuit arrangement.

Referring to the drawings, the device comprises three bodies 6, 8 and ll), of insulating material such as porcelain or a phenolic condensation product. Each of these insulating bodies is substantially cylindrical and provided with proper recesses for the reception of switch and socket has, in addition to its screw contact, an annular contact and a button contact, the ring and button being concentrically positioned at the 1 end of the lamp base, with the button inside of the ring.

To contact with the annular contact of the lamp,

there is provided within the socket base 10 of my invention, a metal ring l4 which is mounted upon a hub l6 that projects up within the socket base Iii from theend wall coaxially with the axis of the socket base. Bent out of the plane'of this ring I 4 in a directionj'a'w'ay from the open end of the socket base is a leg'l ll with afoot 14] at the end" thereof and" secured to the end wall'of the base portion Why a bolt IT. This bolt after passing through the bottom of the'socket" base threads into a terminal'plate t9. This-plate I 9' has another threaded hole through which the hereinafter described bolt {5 passes.-

To cooperate with the' button'contactfofthe lamp base, there is provided a resiliently mounted contact l8 in'the socket base coaxialwith the hub I 6 and the socket base. This central contact l8 has an enlarged head which is capable foire' ciprocation within a cylindrical recess I61 in th'e hub l6. A coil" spring Zllis placed around the stem of the central contact 18' and presses'against the bottom of the recess I6 and the inside of the enlarged head of the contact IS. The stem of the central contact [8 projects through an'aperture in the endwall of the socket base'and has'a circular washer 22' mounted'on the inwardly ex;- tending end thereof by peening over the end of the stem-of the contact l8. This washer Z'Z has;

in diametrically opposed positions on the pieriph ery, radial extensions which are bent at right angles to the planeof the washer so as'to work in slots running longitudinally of thesocket base Ill. The stem of the central'contact l8 may be hollow and internally threaded to receive a screw when the socket portion of 'my device is used separately from the hereinafter described switch portion. s

The screw shell I? of the socket is" held against the inner face of the end wall of the socket base In by a pair of diametrically spaced square headed tubular rivets 24, 24' passing through the end wall and internally threaded to receive'screwsas will hereinafter be described. The end wall of the screw shell I2 is punched out leaving partial segments I2s for securing the screw shell to the inside end wall of the socket base ID. The parts thus far described form the socket portion of my invention.

The switch portion will now be described. The insulating parts 6 and 8 and the switch parts contained therebetween, comprise said switch portion. This switch part is itself a complete unit and is adapted to be secured to the socket part by bolts as will hereinafter be more fully described, when both the switch and socket parts have been completely assembled separately from each other.

All the parts of the switch mechanism are wholly mounted upon the insulating part 6 which may be termed the switch base. The switch may be of the rotary snap type which is actuated by a pull chain 30 to cause a rotating switch blade 32 to rotate with a series oi snap movements comprising steps spaced apart by arcs of Of the four positions thus resulting one will be an off position wherein the circuit from the supply lines to the switch and socket is broken. In the other three positions the switch will complete circuits from the supply lines through one or the other or both of the filaments of the double filament electric lamp, which may be secured within the socket portion of the device.

Inasmuch as the details of the snap switch mechanism form no part of this invention and many types thereof are well known to those skilled in the art, I do not deem it necessary to describe in detail such mechanism. It will suffice to explain that the switch blade comprises three arms 32a, 32b, and 320 spaced 90 apart from one another and adapted in oneof the switch positions to engage with the contact portions 34a, 36a, 38a, of metallic members 34, 36, 38,- hereinafter described ingreater particularity. In other switch positions, as the switch blade is rotated, the switch contact 340. will be connected by the arms 32c and 320 with the stationary contact 38a.

or by the arms 32b and 320 to the stationary switch contact 36a. When the arms 32a and 32b connect stationary contacts 36a, 38a, the switch is in off? position and the circuit from the power lines L and L to the socket parts is broken.

The metallic members 34, 36 and 38 are each U-shaped and may be stamped from sheet metal with one of the legs of each forming the hereinbefore mentioned contact portions 34a, 36a and 38a; These contact portions may be secured to the inner face (lower face in Fig. 1) of the insulating part 6 by screws extending longitudinally of the device through the part 6.

The insulating part 8 forms a cover for the switch base 6 and the switch mechanism mounted thereon. This cover is secured in position upon the switch base 6 by screws 40, 42 (see Figs. 1 and 4) which extend through apertures in the face of the cover and are screwed, respectively, into a U-shaped bracket 44 which supports the flared tubular chain guide 46, and into an internally threaded bushing 41 (see Fig. 3) which passes through the switch base and has its end spun over on the end of abracket 48 which supports the switch spindle bearing 50.

For securing the socket base I 0 against the cover 8 of'the switch portion of the device, three bolts I5, 52, 53 pass through the bottom of the base Ill. The bolt I5 passes through the foot I4 of the ring contact I4 and through the holein the terminal plate I9, and finally threads into an aperture in one arm 38b of the member 38. The bolt I5 is threaded only at its end and has its shank turned to a diameter less than the root diameter of the threads so that it will turn loosely in the hole in the terminal plate I9 when once the threaded end of the bolt has passed therethrough. There is, of course, a bore through the end wall of the cover 8 in register with the hole in terminal plate I9 and the aperture in the arm 38b, for the passage of the bolt I5.

The bolts 52 and 53 pass through the tubular rivets 24, 24'. The bolt 53 then threads into a hollow rivet 55 within the cover 8 of the switch portion (see Fig. 4). The bolt 52 after passing through its tubular rivet 24 is then screwed into a threaded hole in a U-shaped bracket 54, one leg of which is enlarged as at 54a to provide a surface suificient for another hole 5'! into which is threaded a binding screw 56 for connection thereto of a lead wire (not shown, except diagrammatically, in Fig. 7)

The cover 8 adjacent the terminal screw 56 is cut away as at 59 to provide space for the entrance of the lead wire and an aperture 58 in register with 59 is also formed in the switch base 6 in order that the lead wire may pass out through the end of the switch base 6 for connection to one of the power lines.(L The other power line L is connected to the device by means of a lead wire which passes through an aperture 6I in the switch base 6 adjacent the foot 34a of the metallic member 34 and this lead wire is connected to the arm 34b of the metallic member by a terminal screw 60, the cover 8 being apertured in its end face over the arm 34?) to make possible the manipulationof the terminal screw 60 without removing the cover 8 and also to provide room for accommodation of the lead wire.

The passage of the current through the device will now be described. The current from the metallic member 34 proceeds to the socket portion of the device through the arms 32a, 32b, and 320 of the movable contact to the members 36 and 38 as hereinbefore described.

The member 36 has an electrical connection with the central contact I8 of the socket portion of the device by means of a resilient strip 66 of sheet metal which is secured by a screw upon the arm 36?) of the metallic member 36, and has a curved portion extending into the axis of the device in such position that when the socket base In is secured upon the cover 8, the end of the central contact I8 which projects through the end wall of the socket base will be engaged by the curved portion of the resilient strip 66.

h The metallic member 38 is electrically connected to the ring contact I4 of the socket portion of the device by means of the bolt I5 being threaded into an aperture in one arm 38b of the member 38.

The member 54 is electrically connected to the screw shell by the bolt 52.

-The connections of two filaments A and B of a double filament electric lamp to the screw shell I2, ring contact I4 and central contact I8, are shown diagrammatically in Figure '7. Since these connections are conventional, the passage of the current'therethrough need not be described in detail herein but will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The dotted lines in Figure 7 indicate passage of current between the parts connected thereby. In the assembled device, the parts connected by the dotted lines are in physical and electrical engagement.

From'the foregoing description of the device 75 and from a study of the connections it will be noted that when the switch blade 32' is rotated 90 counter-clockwise from the position in which it isshown in Figure '7, only the filament B will be lighted. When the switch blade is rotated 180 from the position shown in Figure I, only the filament A will be lighted. When the switch blade is in the position shown in Figure 7, both filaments will be lighted.

An important advantage of my invention lies in the fact that the socket portion can be separated from the switch portion and used without the switch when it is desired to have the lamp controlled from a remote point. Under such conditions, either the switch portion or any other suitable type of switch may be inserted in the circuit at the remote point for controlling the passage of current through the electric lamp. Suitable brackets are now available-in the market for securing the socket portion of the device in the desired location when the socket portion is used alone. Under such conditions lead wires may be connected as follows: One, to the center contact I8 by a terminal screw (not shown) screwed into the hollow stem of the contact I8. Second, to the screw shell by a terminal screw screwed into the hollow rivet 24 (see Fig. 6), which holds the shell in place. Third, tothe terminal plate by a terminal screw threaded into the aperture in which the bolt I5 is at present shown. The bolt l5, not being needed will of course be removed.

Thus, I have provided a novel combination of a switch and a socket for holding and controlling two filament lamps, the socket portion of the combination being usable with or without the switch.

Many modifications within the scope of my invention will occur to those skilled in the art, therefore I do not limit my invention to the specific embodiment shown.

I claim:

1. A switch and socket device for double filament lamps, having a switch portion and a socket portion, said switch portion comprising switch mechanism including fixed and movable contacts for encircling one or both filaments of the lamp, cooperating insulating bodies enclosing said switch mechanism, said socket portion comprising an insulating body on which are mounted a screw shell, a center contact and a ring contact for engagement by the contacts on the base of a double filament lamp, means capable of manipulation through said screw shell for securing said socket portion and said switch portion together and carrying current from said screw shell and ring contact to certain of said stationary switch contacts, means holding the switch parts and socket parts on the insulating body and base respectively when said securing means is removed, the switch and the socket portions of the device being separable upon removal of said securing means to form a complete independent switch unit and a complete independent socket unit.

2. A switch and socket device for double filament lamps, having a switch portion and a socket portion, said switch portion comprising switch mechanism including fixed and movable contacts for selectively encircuiting the filaments of the lamp, cooperating insulating bodies enclosing said switch mechanism, said socket portion comprising an insulating'body on which are mounted a screw shell, a center contact and a ring contact for engagement by the contacts on the base of a double filament lamp, means capable of manipulation through said screw shell for securing said socket portion and said switch portion together and carrying current from said screw shell and ring contacts to certain of said stationary switch contacts, and a resilient conducting member between said switch and socket portions forming a self-adjusting connection for carrying current from said center contact to one of said stationary switch contacts.

3. In a-switch and socket device for double filament lamps, a socket portion comprising an insulating body, concentrically arranged shell, ring and center contacts mounted on said body, internally threaded means associated with said shell, ring and center contacts respectively for the reception of feed wire binding screws where- 'by three conductors may be connected with said contacts if and when said socket portion is used alone, in combination with a switch portion comprising a pair of cooperating insulating bodies, a switch mechanism including conducting elements housed within said cooperating bodies and so constructed and arranged that either one or both filaments may be electrified, certain conducting elements of said switch mechanism having screw-threaded openings accessible through one of said cooperating bodies, and bolts passing through said socket portion from the interior and engaging in said screw threaded openings to secure said switch and socket portions together and to connect said socket contacts and said switch mechanism electrically.

4. In a switch and socket device for double filament lamps, a socket portion comprising an insulating body, concentrically arranged shell, ring and center contacts mounted on said body, internally threaded means associated with said shell, ring and center contacts respectively for the reception of feed wire binding screws whereby three conductors may be connected with said contacts if and when said socket portion is used alone, in combination with a switch portion comprising a pair of cooperating insulating bodies, a switch mechanism including conducting elements housed within said cooperating bodies and so constructed and arranged that either one or both filaments may be electrified, certain conducting elements of said switch mechanism being U-shaped metal stampings having screw-threaded openings accessible through one of said cooperating bodies, and bolts passing through said socket portion from the interior and engaging in said screw-threaded openings to secure said switch and socket portions together and to connect said socket contacts and said switch mechanism electrically.

5. In a switch and socket device for double filament lamps, a socket portion comprising an insulating body, concentric-ally arranged shell, ring and center contacts mounted on said body, internally threaded means associated with said shell, ring and center contacts respectively for the reception of feed wire binding screws where by three conductors may be connected with said contacts if and when said socket portion is used alone, in combination with a switch portion comprising a pair of cooperatinginsulating bodies, a switch mechanism including conducting elements housed within said cooperating bodies and so constructed and arranged that either one or both filaments may be electrified, certain conducting elements of said switch mechanism being U-shaped metal stampings having screwthreaded openings accessible through one of said cooperating bodies, a resilient member secured to one of said conducting elements and engaging with said center socket contact, and bolts passing through said socket portion from the interior and engaging in said screw-threaded openings to secure said switch and socket portions together and to connect said socket contacts and said switch mechanism electrically.

6. In a switch and socket device for double filament lamps, a socket portion comprising an insulating body, concentrically arranged shell, ring and center contacts mounted on said body, in combination with a switch portion comprising a pair of cooperating insulating bodies, a switch mechanism including conducting elements housed within said cooperating bodies and so constructed and arranged that either one or both filaments may be electrified, said switch mechanism having conducting elements certain of which have contact portions, and certain of said conducting elements having screw threaded apertures adapted to receive screws for securing feed wires when said switch portion is used alone or, alternately, to receive bolts for securing said switch portion to said socket portion when said switch and socket portions are to be used together.

7. In a switch and socket device for double filament lamps, a socket portion comprising an insulating body, concentrically arranged shell, ring and center contacts mounted on said body, in combination with a switch portion comprising a pair of cooperating insulating bodies, a switch mechanism including conducting elements housed within said cooperating bodies and so constructed and arranged that either one or both filaments may be electrified, and bolts passing through said socket portion from the interior securing said switch and socket portions together and carrying current between the conducting parts of said switch and socket portions, said switch mechanism having conducting elements certain of which have contact portions, and certain of said conducting elements having screw threaded apertures adapted to receive screws for securing feed wires, when said switch portion is used alone or, alternately, to receive bolts for securing said switch portion to said socket portion when said switch and socket portions are to be used together.

8. In a switch and socket device for double filament lamps, a socket portion comprising an insulating body, concentrically arranged shell, ring and center contacts mounted on said body,

, said center contact being resiliently mounted and having a disc head, internally threaded means associated with said shell, ring and center contacts respectively for the reception of feed wire binding screws whereby three conductors may be connected with said contacts if and when said socket portion is used alone, in combination with a switch portion comprising a pair of cooperating insulating bodies, a switch mechanism including conducting elements housed within said cooperating bodies and so constructed and arranged that either one or both filaments may be electrified, certain conducting elements of said switch mechanism having screw-threaded openings accessible through one of said cooperating bodies,

a resilient member secured to one of said conducting elements and forming a self-adjusting connection between said element and said central socket contact, and bolts passing through said socket portion from the interior and engaging in said screw-threaded openings to secure said switch and socket portions together and to connect said socket contacts and said switch mechanism electrically.

9. In a switch and socket device for double filament lamps, a socket portion comprising an insulating body, concentrically arranged shell, ring and center contacts mounted on said body, in combination with a switch portion comprising a pair of cooperating insulating bodies, a switch mechanism including conducting elements housed within said cooperating bodies and so constructed and arranged that either one or both filaments may be electrified, certain conducting elements of said switch mechanism having screwthreaded openings accessible through one of said cooperating bodies, and bolts passing through said socket portion from the interior and engaging in said screw-threaded openings to secure said switch and socket portions together and to connect said socket contacts and said switch mechanism electrically, and a resilient member secured to one of said conducting elements and forming a self-adjusting connection between said elements and said central socket contact.

10. In a switch and socket device for double filament lamps, a socket portion comprising an insulating body, concentrically arranged shell, ring and center contacts mounted on said body, said center contact being resiliently mounted and extending through the bottom of said insulating body and having a disc head and being provided with an internally threaded recess for the reception of feed wire binding screw, and internally threaded means associated with said shell and ring contacts respectively for the reception of feed wire binding screws whereby three conductors may be connected with said contacts if and when said socket portion is used alone, in combination with a switch portion comprising a pair of cooperating insulating bodies, a switch mechanism including conducting elements housed within said cooperating bodies and so constructed and arranged that either one or both filaments may be electrified, certain conducting elements of said switch mechanism having screw-threaded openings accessible through one of said cooperating bodies, a resilient member secured to one of said conducting elements and engaging with said center socket contact, and bolts passing through said socket portion from the interior and engaging in said screw-threaded openings to secure said switch and socket portions together and to connect said socket contacts and said switch mechanism electrically.

11. A switch and socket device comprising insulating base means, switch mechanism including conducting elements fixed upon said base means, a socket body of insulating material having socket contact elements mounted thereon one of which is depressible with respect to said socket body, means securing said base means and socket body together and carrying current between certain of said socket contact and conducting elements, and a resilient conducting means carried by said base means and extending between said socket body and base means to form a self-adjusting current carrying connection between one of said conducting elements and said depressible socket contact element when said base means and socket body are assembled.

BENJ. 'C. WEBSTER. 

